[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
WELL, THE CALL TO ORDER OF MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MR. MCKELLEN, WOULD YOU PLEDGE JULIAN THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I WOULD LIKE A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE CAUCUS AGENDA.
MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION AND MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED, AND THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST IS THE REVIEW OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRST READING AND TRYING TO FIND IT.
NOW I HAVE IT LISTED ON MY OTHER COPY AND DON'T CUT IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, WHERE DID I SEE THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST READING FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER? AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR SOMEONE TO AMEND THAT, TO REFER THAT PARTICULAR ITEM TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SO, SO YOU WILL MAKE THE MOTION WHEN WE DO THAT.
UH, I WILL FIND IT WHEN, BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS.
UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT ANY ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA OR THE CONSENT AGENDA? ERIC HAS ONE POINT THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD.
I'M GOING TO ASK WE, WE INADVERTENTLY, I LOVE SOMETHING OFF OF THE REGULAR AGENDA THAT WAS TAKEN THE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE TITLE.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET IT IN AN EMAIL, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SUB RECIPIENT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BUFORD REGARDING A ROAD PROJECT.
UH, WE, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE NEED TO AMEND THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN DO THAT AT NIGHT.
I CAN SIGN THOSE DOCUMENTS AND GET THAT APPROVED.
IT WILL NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THESE.
SO WE WILL BUY THAT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
AND YOUR GENDER? UM, I DIDN'T SEE THE BACKUP INFORMATION FOR, I THINK IT'S, UH, 19 THE RESOLUTION, UM, DEALING WITH, UM, A MILA BLUFF AGENDA.
NO TACTICAL INFORMATION ON, I DIDN'T SEE IT THOUGH.
I THINK IT WAS A GLITCH AND MUNI CODE.
NOT PULLING IT UP OVER THE WEEKEND.
DID, WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO PROVIDE FOR YOU BEFORE COUNTS? IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE.
ANY OTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WISH TO DISCUSS ANY PARTICULAR THING BEFORE WE GO INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, SEEING NONE, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF, UM, LEGAL ADVICE AND NEGOTIATIONS, UH, PROPOSED FOR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS AS LISTED IN THE AGENDA.
THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY MR. BODMAN.
SECOND SECOND BY MR. UM, CAN I THINK CHRIS, I'M SORRY, CHRIS, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR NAME THERE, MAKING SURE I HIT, OKAY.
UH, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MANY PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IT, BUT HOMELESSNESS IS A CHALLENGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:05:01]
ORGANIZATIONS IN BUFORD COUNTY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS, BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE.IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP PLEASE CALL 8 4 3 5 2 1 3 1 5 3 IT'S TIME.
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTY.
BEAVER COUNTY, STRONGLY ENCOURAGES LOCAL, SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES TO SUBMIT A NEW VENDOR APPLICATION TO ITS PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
THE APPLICATION AND A VENDOR GUIDE ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE ALONG WITH INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT WWW.BCGOV.NET, AND LOOK UNDER THE, HOW DO I TAP BACK FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WE DISCUSSED THOSE ITEMS. ONE OF THE ITEMS IS ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION.
THAT IS ITEM NUMBER 25, AND THAT WILL BE TAKEN AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER ACTION, THE AUGUST MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED, ARE GOING TO HAVE A CEREMONY OUTSIDE AND THEN COME BACK IN FOR THE REGULAR MEETING.
SO THE CAUCUS MEETING IS ADJOURNED COUNCIL
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MEETING OF MONDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 2021 TO ORDER, UM, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE DONE BY COUNCILMAN LARRY MCKELLEN, UH, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.COULD YOU PLEASE REMAIN STANDING THE END LOCATION? YES.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE ITSELF AND FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH, GIVEN US TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK.
AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES, I ASK THAT WE AS A BODY PROMOTE PEACE ORDER AND JUSTICE, AND THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY GRANT THIS ASSEMBLED BODY, THE WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS AND ISSUES OF OUR TIMES TO HAVE A SENSE OF THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS, TO HAVE A KEEN THIRST FOR JUSTICE, TO UNDERSTAND, AND TO CLEARLY SEE WHAT IS GOOD FITTING AND APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY.
EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT AND TO HAVE PERSONAL PEACE IN OUR LIVES AND JOY IN OUR TASKS.
FINALLY, PLEASE HELP US TO ENSURE OUR DELIBERATIONS HERE TONIGHT.
BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY IN YOUR NAME.
HOW ABOUT NOTICE? THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO A MEN TONIGHT'S AGENDA BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE AGENDA AS FOLLOWS[00:10:01]
IN ITEM NUMBER 14, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER TO REFER, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THIS MATTER TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.AND THE NEXT FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD.
NEXT, I WOULD ASK THAT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL, UM, ADD TO ITEM NUMBER 25, THAT THE FUNDING SOURCE WILL BE THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE MOVE BOTH OF THOSE MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE ONE, THE THIRD ONE, THE THIRD ONE THAT WE NEED TO ADD CAME OUT OF PUBLIC FACILITIES IS CALLED A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUFORD COUNTY IN THE CITY OF BUFORD OR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AWARD RELATED TO THE DEPOT ROAD PEOPLE ROAD, PATHWAY PROJECT.
AND THAT WILL BE THE NEW ITEM NUMBER 27.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION, TO AMEND THE AGENDA FOR THOSE THREE SPECIFIC ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE AMEND ITEM NUMBER 14 TO REFER THIS MATTER TO THE NEXT FINANCE COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 18TH, 2022.
AND THAT WE ADD TO ITEM 25, THAT THE, UH, SOURCE OF FUNDING, IT WILL BE THE, UH, FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT WE ADD AN ITEM 27 AS SPECIFIED BY, BY MR. RODMAN, BOTH JULIE MOTION AND SECOND TO AMEND THE AGENDA FOR THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, UM, THAT OPPOSED THE AMENDMENTS MOVING FORWARD, BUT, UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO AT LEAST GIVE SOME DIRECTION OF FIELD FROM THIS LISTENER OFFICE SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY START UPROOTING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO INVITE THAT PERSON THERE.
THAT PERSON IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING IT THAT WAY.
THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THIS WILL BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA WITHOUT ANY OBJECTIONS.
AND I DO NOT SEE ANY OBJECTIONS.
THEREFORE, I ASKED A MEMBER NOW TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.
MR. MCCULLOUGH MAKES THE MOTION AND MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTIONS.
[5. BREAK FOR TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY]
WE'RE NOW.AND ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE MEETING.
UH, WE HAVE A TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
WE HOPE EVERYONE WILL JOIN US OUTSIDE FOR THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.
SIDEWALKS, BUSY SIDE DRESSING STYLE.
HAPPY PEOPLE READING, SMILE, A SMILE ON EVERY STREET CORNER, THE STRINGS, THOSE LIGHTS EVEN STOP THE LIGHT AS THE SHOPPERS RAJ
[00:15:01]
TREASURE HERE, THE SNOW CRASH.THIS IS A BIG C AND ABOUT DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW OPEN SWAY, OR THAT BE AS WE GO THE WAY MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT.
WHAT FUN IT IS? YOU WRITE AND SING THIS SONG TO NIGHT.
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN ALL THE WAY.
AND IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SWAY A DAY OR TWO.
UH UH WAS HE GOT INTO A DRE BANG AND WE GOT UP ALL THE WAY.
OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH.
OH HEY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO SONGS.
EVERYONE CAN, ALL OF YOU HEAR ME.
WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AND TO HELP ME IN THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS FROM THE DSN.
SO IF WE COULD HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS COME FORWARD TO HELP ME LIGHT THE DRI.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE, WE'RE GOING TO LIGHT THE TREE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR GROUP DO ANOTHER COUPLE SONGS.
[00:20:01]
UH, NO, WHY THIS DO YOUR HEAD AND THE SONG OR .SO FOR THE LAST SONG THAT WE'RE GOING TO SING, THIS IS OUR CHRISTMAS WISH FOR THE WORLD THIS YEAR, PLEASE COME AND SEE, SAT UP, COME OVER.
UH UH, UH, WITH, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, WE WALK WITH THE, UH, UH, THE, UH, UH, WE, UH, EVERY BREATH I TAKE , UH, TWO AND WITH ME.
WHAT FUN IT IS TO WRITE AND SING THIS SONG TONIGHT.
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH.
HEY, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY ON THE WEAPON.
NO ONE KNOWS OPENS THE WAY A DAY OR TWO.
[00:25:01]
HORSE WISE LEAN, AND HIS FORTUNE SEEMED HIS LAW.HE GOT INTO A DRINK AND WE GOT A ALL THE WAY.
OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH.
UH HEY, BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION OF THIS MEETING, WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER
[6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 & OCTOBER 11, 2021]
SIX.AND I WOULDN'T ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 27TH AND OCTOBER 11TH.
MR. SOMERVILLE MADE THE MOTION AND MS. HOWARD MADE THE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MINUTES, SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
IT'S ALREADY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.UM, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF, I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT, UH, SARAH AND HER TEAM DID PUTTING TOGETHER THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, UH, THIS EVENING.
I THINK ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR HANGING AROUND AND COMING TO THE EVENT, UM, UH, THIS EVENING.
SARAH, DO YOU AND BRENDA AND TIFFANY, UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I NEED TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU ALL TONIGHT, THAT WE RECENTLY GOT A LETTER FROM THE STATE TREASURER, MR. X FROM, UH, INDICATING TO US THAT OUR ANNUAL AUDIT COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT WOULD BE DUE ON DECEMBER 31ST.
THAT'S NO SURPRISE TO YOU ALL ON COUNTING COUNCIL BECAUSE IT'S DUE EVERY YEAR ON DECEMBER 31ST, THE ONE SURPRISE IN THIS YEAR'S LETTER IS THAT THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO, UH, EXTENSIONS GRANTED THIS YEAR BEYOND DECEMBER 31ST.
UH, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO REPORT TO YOU IS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FINANCIAL AUDIT DONE BY DECEMBER 20, UH, BY DECEMBER 31ST OR JANUARY ONE, WE WILL HAVE IT DONE AT THE END OF JANUARY.
UH, THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING IT DONE ARE INCONSEQUENTIAL IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE THEY WILL JUST WITHHOLD OUR STATE FUNDING UNTIL WE HAVE IT.
NONE WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT DO ANOTHER STATE PAYMENT UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE GOOD.
I HAVE DRAFTED A LETTER TO THE TREASURER, UM, STATING, UH, OUR DISPLEASURE AT THE REQUEST OF THE AUDIT DOOR, WHO WAS DOING OUR AUDIT, SEDATING OUR DISPLEASURE WITH THE TIMING OF THIS LETTER.
AND, UH, THE FACT THAT THEY CHOSE THIS YEAR, NOT TO GRANT EXTENSIONS WITH US, JUST COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND ALL THE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH AND TRY TO DEAL WITH ART.
BUT I, IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, AFTER WE CAME OUT OF BUDGET, AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, WE WENT RIGHT INTO AN INTERNAL AUDIT AND WE PREPARED FOR THE, UH, THE MAJOR AUDIT THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE WILL NOT BE IN THIS POSITION NEXT YEAR, UH, IN LARGE PART TO YOU ALL.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVIDING STAFF.
WE HAVE STAFF AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, BETTER PREPARE FOR THE AUDIT NEXT YEAR.
AND I HAVE GIVEN CLEARER INSTRUCTIONS TO MY FINANCE TEAM THAT WE BETTER NOT MISS THE AUDIT, UH, DEADLINE NEXT YEAR.
UM, OR WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY ON SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.
SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET THIS ON, ON SCHEDULE AND GET IT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO, OH, BY THE WAY, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF MY COUNTERPARTS WHO INDICATE AS MANY AS 23 COUNTIES WILL NOT HAVE THEIR AUDIENCE DONE.
UM, BASED ON OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE AUDITOR IT'S RIGHT NOW ONLY IT LOOKS LIKE ONLY ONE OR TWO COUNTIES ARE GOING TO COMPLY WITH THAT, UH, DECEMBER 31ST DEADLINE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT TO YOU ALL, WE ARE WORKING ON IT AS HARD AS WE CAN, MR. SPENDING A LOT OF HIS TIME, UH, TO GET THIS DONE.
UH, AND, UH, WORKING WITH THE AUDIT TEAM AS IS CUSTOMARY.
I ALWAYS INTRODUCE A FEW EMPLOYEES.
DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION
[00:30:01]
THIS EVENING.I KNOW THE HOUR IS LATE AND WE'VE GOT A BIG AGENDA, BUT I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I ENJOY COUNSEL YOU ALL TO HEAR ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE.
SO OUR FIRST, UH, PERSON TONIGHT, UH, AS MR. STEVEN CARTER, I DON'T KNOW STEVEN, I'VE PROBABLY SEEN STEVEN.
I DON'T KNOW IN PERSON UNTIL WE JUST MET AT NIGHT, BUT HE'S IN OUR STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT.
HE IS A FOREMAN THERE HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 13 YEARS.
HE'S SERVED, SUPERVISES, VARIOUS STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE CREWS.
SO, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE STEPS UP TO MANAGE MAY THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURE STAFF ON A ROUTINE BASIS RECENTLY IN A MANDATORY DEPARTMENT, WIDE FEMA TRAINING, STEVEN DEMONSTRATED EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP SKILLS BY NOT ONLY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING AND QUICKLY UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX TEACHINGS, BUT BY ENGAGING WITH HIS CREW AND FELLOW COWORKERS, STEPHEN QUARTER CONTINUES TO PROVE TO BE AN ASSET TO THE STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
EVEN AT FIRST, ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE COUNTY COUNCIL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO BE AMONG UP HERE, GETTING RECOGNIZED AGAIN.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. ERIC GREENWAY, UM, THE PARLORS, THE MR. DEAL DECIDE THE OPERATIONS MANAGER, MR. JOHN MILLER, AND MY SUPERINTENDENT FOR STORM WATER AS THE MATTHEW ROSE.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK UP HERE AGAIN.
MR. ALLEN, JOHN ALLEN, AARON WORKS IN OUR ROADS AND DRAINAGE NORTH, SOUTH, UH, DIVISION.
HE IS A SUPERINTENDENT MATT, 19 YEARS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IF YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR ROAD.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, BLABBER COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE RURAL ROADS, YOU CAN EITHER THANK HIM OR YOU CAN, UH, SAY, HEY, CAN YOU DO OUR ROADS A LITTLE FASTER FOR US? UM, THEY, THEY FAILURE AGAIN.
I'VE JUST, I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT SOME POSITIONS OR, UH, INVISIBLE TO YOU ALL, BUT THEY'RE THE MOST VISIBLE, UH, DO YOU USE THAT? WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY? UH, AND THIS IS A COMMON EXAMPLE.
UH, EVERYBODY SEES QUALITY ROADS.
DID YOU ALL HEAR ABOUT IT ON COUNTY COUNCIL WHEN THEY'RE NOT MAINTAINED IN A QUALITY MANNER? UH, DARREN HERE HELPS US STAY ON TOP OF THAT TO HOPEFULLY MINIMIZE ANY COMPLAINTS THAT YOU OFF.
UH, HE JOINED THE GENERAL SUPPORT TEAM AS A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN.
ONE THAT WAS PROMOTED TO SEVERAL POSITIONS TO INCLUDE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR FOREMAN, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERINTENDENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IT NOW IS CURRENTLY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR ROADS AND DRAINAGE.
HIS DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY THROUGHOUT HIS TIME WITH BUFORD COUNTY.
THAT BOARD EXEMPT LARRY IS HARD FOR A PERSONAL SOUTHERN ACCENT TO SAY, AARON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND WITH AFTERNOON.
ALL HAVE TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT CONSIDERED ME FOR THAT.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE GIVEN ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.
AND HOPEFULLY I CAN CONTINUE DOING A GOOD JOB.
UH, MR. GREENWAY JUST SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW THEM THAT WELL, HE'S NOT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AROUND BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO VALUABLE EMPLOYEES THERE.
AND, UM, UH, I HAVE MR. UM, I CALL HIM DA ON MY ON SPEED DIAL.
HE'S DONE EXEMPLARY WORK OUT, UH, IN MY AREA.
I WILL MAKE IT A MATTER OF PRIORITY TO GET OUT THOSE GUYS LEAVE.
THEY LEAVE OUT IN THE MORNING SO EARLY.
I, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET UP THERE AND GET OVER TO THEM BEFORE THEY'RE OUT ON THE ROOF WORKING AND SAY READY.
UM, THIS A FINAL A PERSON TONIGHT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT, I DIDN'T KNOW, EXISTED.
UM, I DIDN'T EVEN, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PERSON, UH, IN OUR AVIATION, UH, FIELD,
[00:35:01]
UM, THAT THIS, UH, INDIVIDUAL RECEIVED THIS AWARD FOR, BUT IT'S CALLED THE CHARLES TAYLOR MASTER MECHANIC AWARD.AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT LIKE TO GOOGLE THINGS AND LOOK UP THINGS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GOOGLE AND WATCH THE VIDEOS ON THE CHARLES TAYLOR, UH, MASTER MECHANICAL AWARD AND FIND OUT WHO CHARLES TAYLOR WAS, BUT HE PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ESTABLISHING THE ENGINE THAT ALLOWED THE WRIGHT BROTHERS TO FIRST TAKE FLIGHT.
SO, UM, OUR CANDIDATE AND OUR EMPLOYEE WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED THIS AWARD IS A PERSON BY THE NAME OF GARY DAVEY.
UM, AND I'LL COME ON UP HERE TO INTERVIEW SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THE CAREER OF THIS GENTLEMAN, UM, AND WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT SERVICES HAVE BEEN TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO, UH, THIS COUNTY.
UM, SO, UM, THE CHARLES TAYLOR MASTER MECHANICAL BOARD WAS PRESENTED TO GARY DAVEY BY A L S DASH EIGHT 60 F A S T TEAM PROGRAM MANAGER ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2021.
HE WORKS IN THE MUSKIE, MR. DAVEY WORKS IN OUR MOSQUITO CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
HE STARTED WITH US ON AUGUST 6TH, 2021, AND HE'S STILL WITH US.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, CHARLES TAYLOR MASH MECHANICAL WORK PROGRAM IS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
THE FAA ISSUES TO PERSONAL CERTIFICATED UNDER TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
CHARLES TAYLOR IS TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO, WHO HAVE EXHIBITED EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AVIATION EXPERTISE, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONALISM, AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS OR MORE OF AVIATION MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE.
MR. DAVEY HAS 55 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AVIATION FIELD SERVING BOTH HIS COUNTRY AND, UH, VARIOUS OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND, UH, THE SOUTHEAST AND THIS COUNTY ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2021.
WE ATTENDED THE CEREMONY WHERE THE CHARLES TAYLOR MASTER MECHANIC AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO GARY.
DAVID BOUGHT, UH, A AT LFS DASH EIGHT 50 NATIONAL FAA SAFETY TEAM AT THE BUFORD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND READ, UH, SOME OF HIS CAREER HERE.
UM, MR. DAVEY RECEIVED HIS AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE AFTER ATTENDING EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 1966.
HE WAS IN THE AIR FORCE FROM AROUND 1966 TO 1974 AND TOOK HIS POWER PLANT TEST DURING THIS PERIOD WHERE IT IS THAT WHEN THE GENERAL LEARN THAT HE HAD A RADIAL ENGINE EXPERIENCE, HE WAS ASSIGNED MAINTENANCE ON THE D C3, WHICH IS THE PLANE THAT THE GENERAL WOULD FLY.
MR. DAVID CURRENTLY MAINTAINS AN OCTM D BRONCO AIRPLANE AND AN M D DASH 500 D HELICOPTER FOR OUR MOSQUITO CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
HE MENTORS MECHANICS AT BUFORD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT WORKING TOWARDS THEIR A AND P MECHANIC AND I A INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION CERTIFICATES.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG CAREER.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT THAT DAY, UH, ABOUT YOU AND ABOUT, UH, THE AWARD.
AND I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT AN HONOR IT IS FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN THERE, TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.
I KNOW IT WAS AN HONOR WITH YOU, AND I'M ALLOWING YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS HERE TO THE ELM, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL A BIG ROUND BUBBLE.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, 58 YEARS, AND MORE THAN WITH AMP AS AN AMP AND 2020 OF THOSE YEARS, I'VE BEEN WITH BUFORD COUNTY.
I'M HONORED TO BE IN THE SCENE.
I THINK I SAID SOMETHING, UH, UH, W ON MY SHEET HERE, IT SAYS HE STARTED IN 2021 WHEN SHE STARTED IN 99.
SO LET'S MAKE THAT AUGUST 6TH, 1999, BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE VERY LONG IF IT WAS AUGUST 6, 20, 21.
[8. CITIZEN COMMENTS - (ANYONE who wishes to speak during the Citizen Comment portion of the meeting will limit their comments to no longer than three (3) minutes ( a total of 15 minutes ) and will address Council in a respectful manner appropriate to the decorum of the meeting, refraining from the use of profane, abusive, or obscene language)]
[00:40:01]
CITIZEN COMMENTS.UH, WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD, COME FORWARD, SIR.
UM, I COME TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT, LIKE I DID THE LAST TIME ABOUT YOUR REGISTER CAN PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF AT THIS POINT I HAVE A ASSEMBLER COMMITTEE.
WE GONNA LOOK AT IT OURSELVES, BUT, UM, MAYBE WE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU WHY I'M SO INSISTENT ON, ON, UH, MINORITY REPRESENTATION, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED IN THIS COUNCIL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ABOUT HOW THEY PUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TAX BURDEN ON THE POOR PEOPLE.
YOU ESTABLISH A NO REAL INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTY.
AND WHEN YOU DID THAT, WE ONLY RE WE CAME FROM, UH, A FARMING INDUSTRY, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETIRED.
AND MOST OF THE TRUTH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAND OWNERS IN THIS COUNTY, THEY'RE ALL 65 MAJORITY OF THE LANDOWNERS AND WHAT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, WHAT THEY GET FROM WORKING INTO FARMING INDUSTRY, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS NOT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THEM.
YOU JUST WANTED A, A SET OF PENNY RAISED THE OTHER DAY WAS FAILED.
NOW, STONEWALL, YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T TAX GOD.
YOU, YOU HAVE PUT THE CHARTS ON, ON TAXES FOR STONEWATER FEES AND I, AND THAT'S POOR PEOPLE ALSO.
AND REMEMBER NOW WHAT'S CRAZY WHEN YOU MESS WITH THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU ALSO DONE IT UNTO ME.
ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS SMITH? GOOD AFTERNOON? UM, I LIKE TO DIDDLE EVERYTHING.
HE JUST SEND ME WHAT HE, WHAT HE JUST SAID, BUT ALSO, UM, WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT I JUST SAW THE, WHAT WE'RE USING THE AMERICA CARE X MONEY FOR ALL THE, ALL THE S F S A FUNDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT, THAT WE'RE NOT CON WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, HOW WE'RE SPINNING THESE FUNDINGS.
THE PEOPLE IN THE CONVENTION ARE NOT INVOLVED.
IT'S ALMOST STILL KIND OF COUNCIL.
IT'S JUST PASSING DOWN AND STAMPING WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE MONEY.
AND THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED.
I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE USING THE MONEY FOR WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE USING THE MONEY FOR.
AND WHAT'S THE MOST CONCERNING THING IS THAT AT AN ALARMING RATE, BUT WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, I'VE BEEN TO SO MANY YOUNG, YOUNG CHILDREN, FUNERAL OF I, THAT WE, THAT WE'RE BEARING YOUTH.
AND WE CONTINUE TO, WE CONTINUE TO BRING BUSINESSES AND DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN THERE THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM HERE OR THE COMMUNITY HERE.
AND YET WE THINK THAT WE CAN USE THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR WHAT WE SEE FOR WHAT WE, WHAT WE SEE BEST TO BENEFIT CERTAIN, CERTAIN SORT OF POCKETS OF PEOPLE HERE.
NO, I CAN'T PUT IT NO UP NO OTHER WAY, BECAUSE NOW THAT MY FRUSTRATED I'M DISPLEASED, I LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES AND I LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING HERE.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IN THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE TALK ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, BUT THERE'S ALSO ONE THING THAT WE, THAT WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT AS A WEALTH GAP, WE HAVE A WEALTH GAP, A DISCOUNT IN UNTIL WE ADJUST THE WEALTH GAP, THEN WE CAN'T GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
SO THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP ALL DAY LONG, BUT THERE'S A WEALTH GAP THAT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS I DON'T HEAR EVER HEAR.
AND I'M GOING TO BE LISTENING BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU OUT TO TALK ABOUT THE WEALTH GAP THAT WE HAVE IS KINDNESS, COUNTING AND NOT JUST, UH, CREATING HOSPITALITY JOBS THAT ARE NOT, THAT ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH TO BUY A PACK OF MEAT.
THAT'S A SHAME BEFORE GOD THAT WE LET YOU GUYS TO COME OUT, TO COME UP WITH JOBS, TO HELP, TO HELP OUT THE COUNTY.
BUT INSTEAD WE DO THE TOTAL, WE DO THE TOTAL OPPOSITE, AND THIS JUST NOT MY FIRST TIME COMING ABOUT THE, THE, THE, UH, THE AMERICAN, THE AMERICAN TAX MONEY.
SO I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL ARE HAND WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND I'M TELLING I'M TOM TELLING YOU THAT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, THAT THE CITY HAVE CHANGED, HAVE CHANGED THEIR TONE TO WHERE, WHERE THEY SAY THEY WANNA SPEND THEIR MONEY AT.
I THINK WE ARE A COUNTY COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
YES, YOU HAVE AN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT ALSO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS YOUR JOB
[00:45:01]
AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO RUN THIS COUNTY TO DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES AT.SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW ARE WE GOING TO BETTER THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.
BUT INDIVIDUALLY WE CAN'T, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE CITIZEN COMMENTS SECTION.
UM, THE WORD OF THE DAY IS BREVITY.
SO AS WE GO THROUGH THE AGENDA, PLEASE BE BRIEF IN YOUR COMMENTS, LIAISON AND COMMITTEE
[9. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
REPORTS, ANY MEMBERS, ANY COMMITTEES WANT TO REPORT BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? EXCELLENT.UM, MR. RODMAN, UH, WE'LL BE BRIEF, MR. CHAIRMAN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, A COUPLE ITEMS. ONE IS ACTUALLY UNDER THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FORWARD, BUT IT'S PURCHASED A FIFTH MOTOR GRADER.
SO WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MAINTAINING THE DIRT ROADS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND YOUR PUBLIC FACILITIES.
UH, WE HAVE THE, IT'S CALLED THE BUCK WALTER ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND THIS IS FOR THE SECTION FROM, UH, THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY UP TO 2 78.
AND IT'S REALLY US AGREEING ON WHAT THE BASIC CONFIGURATIONS OF THE INTERSECTIONS AND THE, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNALS WILL BE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
AT SOME POINT, WE'LL COME BACK AND LOOK AT THE SECTION SOUTH OF THE, OF THE PARKWAY.
UM, WE HAVE TWO FROM THE AIRPORTS, WHICH ARE REALLY, UH, JUST AGREEING THAT, UH, UH, THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR SOME FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE RESCUE PLAN THAT COMES TO AIRPORTS.
UH, WE HAVE A SMALL, I THINK IT WAS FOUR OR 5% INCREASE ON THE HANGER RATES AT BOTH OF THE TWO AIRPORTS.
AND WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION AWARD FOR THE EMS FIRE RENOVATION STATION AT, UH, SUN CITY.
SO THOSE ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ONE OTHER ITEM, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, IT WAS DECIDED WHEN WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE A 22 REFERENDUM THAT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE, UH, PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE.
UM, I THINK WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THAT IS THAT, UH, STAFF WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
BUT MY SENSE IS THAT IT WILL PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT DOING, UH, EIGHT YEARS, NOT FOUR YEARS WITH SAYING THAT WE WOULD DO IT IN A, IN 22.
NOW, I THINK SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE SHORTER, SOME LIKE THE LONGER SOMETHING LIKE THE START SOONER SUMMERS WOULD START LATER, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE ALL KIND OF KEEP AN OPEN MIND, LET'S SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEN WE CAN MAKE SOME DECISIONS EITHER GO WITH THAT, NOT GO WITH THAT OR TO MODIFY IT, UH, WHETHER IT'S THE START DATE OR THE, UH, THE LENGTH OF IT.
UM, AND AT THAT POINT, UH, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS GIVEN THE TIME IS KIND OF SHORT AND GETTING THIS THROUGH.
IF THE STAFF IS READY BEFORE OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE, THEN WE MIGHT BRING IT THROUGH ONE OF THE OTHER COMMITTEES AND AT TIME.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE MR. CHAIRMAN, ANY OTHER FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE SAID ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THAT IS A THIRD READING OF THE BUFORD COUNTY PROCUREMENT CODE.
WE ARE UPDATING THAT HASN'T BEEN CHANGED SINCE 2014, SO SOME NECESSARY THINGS TO BRING US MORE IN LINE WITH THE NORMAL PRACTICES OF TODAY.
THANK YOU REAL BRIEFLY, MR. CHAIRMAN NUMBER 17 AND 18 ON THE AGENDA, OR BOTH OF EITHER REFUNDS OR WAIVERS OF IMPACT FEES OR TWO ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ONE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE OTHER DIFFERENT FOR HOUSING.
AS A LIAISON FOR THE, UM, DISABILITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I THOUGHT MR. LOWELL WAS GOING TO BE HERE.
UM, HE DIDN'T MENTION THIS AT THE LAST MEETING WITH CALORIE THAT YOU HAVE HIS PHONE, UH, DISABILITIES SPECIAL NEEDS.
IT'S AN INSPIRATIONAL EVERY DAY.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.
SO WE GOT TO FLIP IT AND READ THAT INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE.
UH, AND ALSO, UH, UH, THEY WERE ALSO A PART OF THE LIGHTING OF THE TREE.
SO WE APPRECIATE THESE DISABILITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
UM, I REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR, YEAR BEFORE I BELIEVE I GOT PAINTINGS BY THEM, A MINOR HUNG IN MY ROOM, SO, YEAH.
BUT, UM, YEAH, SO JUST RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THE WORK THEY DO.
AND ALSO FOR THE CONSUMERS THAT THEY WORKED WITH.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T MENTION, I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT HERE, MR. CHAIRMAN IS THAT, UM, THEY, THEY ARE REALLY, UM, IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AS A COUNCIL WRITING OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR THEM, BECAUSE THERE'S A WAITING LIST THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY CANNOT, UM, UM, RECEIVE
[00:50:01]
THOSE CONSUMERS WITHOUT THE FUNDING.SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO START LOBBYING OUR LEGISLATORS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PROVIDE THEM A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ITEM FOR YOU SERVICE TO TAKE OFF.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PUBLIC MR. RODMAN, YOU MADE THE MOTION SECOND PLACE, MR. SOMERVILLE, YOU MADE THE SECOND.THE CHAIRMAN, IF I MIGHT, I THINK, YES.
I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE, UM, APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL BOARD TRUSTEES.
I THINK POTENTIALLY WE TWO NAMES, BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
UM, IN ITEM NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE TWO NAMES THERE, BUT ONLY ONE POSITION I'M GOING TO PULL THAT OFF.
YES, IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WE DO NEED TO, UM, TO HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER TWO, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN TO REMOVE ITEMS DO.
AND, AND I BELIEVE OUR, OUR, UH, OUR RULES ARE THAT ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL CAN ASK THAT IT'D BE REMOVED.
I ASKED THAT IT'D BE REMOVED AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT NEEDS A SECOND MORE EMOTION.
SO WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE MOTION, OR, AND SECOND, WE HAVE REMOVED HIDING NUMBER TWO FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
SO WE'RE BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THAT TAKES US TO THE ACTION ITEMS, ITEM NUMBER.
[2. APPOINTMENT TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A PARTIAL TERM EXPIRING IN 2023. Applicants: CAROLYN M. BANNER, Ph.D. ANGELA D. SIMMONS Ph.D.]
WE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO PICK UP ITEMS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT.OKAY, WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
UH, I WOULD SEEK A MOTION FROM A MEMBER TO APPOINT ONE OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS, MR. SOMERVILLE.
AS THE LIAISON TO THE HOSPITAL, UH, THE, UH, CONSISTENT WITH OUR LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP, OUR STANDING UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOSPITAL, THEY PUT FORWARD TWO NAMES OF BOTH OF WHICH ARE VERY QUALIFIED AND IT'S OUR JOB TO, UH, TO VET AND TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON ONE.
AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UH, NOMINATE CAROLYN AND BANNER PHD TO A PARTIAL TERM ON THE HOSPITAL BOARD EXPIRING IN 2023.
ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NO, MR. .
UM, UH, IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, I THINK, UH, MS. UH, BENITA DOOR, UH, WAS THE OTHER, UM, APPLICANT, UH, THAT WAS, UH, RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD.
AND I THINK, UH, UH, SHE WOULD HAVE MADE A VIABLE CANDIDATE TO FILL THAT POSITION AS HE'S ALREADY ON THE BOARD.
SHE'S ALREADY ON THE PARTY ON THE BOARD.
THE APPROVAL OF CAROLYN B CAROLYN M VANNER PHD WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.
WE ARE NOW AT THE ACTION ITEMS
[11. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE SAID THAT THERE WAS ONE THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.
[12. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY A PORTION OF, ACCEPT A DEED FOR, AND CONVEY A PERPETUAL EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH TMS NO. R600 021 000 0673 0000; EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO A DEED OF PERPETUAL EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WITH TMS NO. R600 021 000 0007 0000; AND ACCEPT A DONATION TO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM]
I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, TO CONVEY A PORTION OF EXCEPT THE DEED FORM AND CONVEY A PERPETUAL EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BUFORD COUNTY WITH THE TMS NUMBER OF 600 0 21, TRIPLE 0 0 6 7 3 4 ZEROS AND EXECUTED AN AMENDMENT TO A DEED OF PERPETUAL EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WITH THE TMS NUMBER OF 600, UH, 0 21, TRIPLE ZERO, A TRIPLE 0 7 4 ZEROS, AND ACCEPT THE DONATION TO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION SECOND, MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION.
[00:55:01]
CHAIRMAN, I INTEND TO VOTE AGAINST THIS MEASURE.AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DO A ROLL CALL.
UH, IF IN FACT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, WE MAY TAKE THIS, UH, AS YOUR A NEGATIVE VOTE AND EVERYBODY ELSE VOTE VOTING POSITIVELY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION MR. CLAVER? BRIAN, IF YOU SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A DISSENTER.
ANY OTHERS? I WILL SAY THIS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I THINK THE STAFF IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THIS.
SO THIS WILL BE, UM, A, A VOTE OF, THERE ARE ALL 11 OF US HERE.
AND TO KNOW ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A CONCERN THAT I'M NOT CALLING THE ROLE THAT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE NINE YESES AND TWO NOS? I MEAN, THIS IS APPROVED WITH NINE.
[13. FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY]
IS THE FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF AN ORDINANCE ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BUFORD COUNTY.MR. SOMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.
MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION.
WE'VE HELD NUMEROUS MEETINGS ABOUT THIS.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST READING FOR THE REDISTRICTING OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SIR, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, IT IS RIGHT.
ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL SEEING NONE THEN? UM, UH, THE FIRST READING WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14.
[14. FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF AN ORDINANCE ALLOCATING $166,397.00 TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE TO COVER A COST OF LIVING INCREASE, COMPENSATION STUDY INCREASE, AND COST REQUIRED TO HIRE ANOTHER MAGISTRATE COURT ATTORNEY.]
YES.I JUST WANT COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO GET THE ORDINANCES TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT TO LIST OUT ALL A BUNCH OF DETAILS IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE'RE DOING THAT FOR A SECOND.
READING, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14 HAS BEEN AMENDED, UH, TO REFER THIS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR THIS TO BE REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. MCELLEN MAKES THE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. RODMAN.
UH, I THINK WE GOT TO THIS POINT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER COMING FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAD DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE SOLICITORS BUDGET AND OR ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND, UH, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE HAD ANSWERED ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS OR AT LEAST CALLED MEMBERS TO THAT QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THAT HAD NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, WE ALSO LOOK AT THE, UH, UM, THE SOLICITORS REQUESTS BECAUSE THEY DO GO HAND IN HAND IN TERMS OF HOW WE MOVE STUFF THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, SIGNAL OTHER COMMENTS THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION FOR REAL CALL UP CODE FOUR.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SITTING HERE, RACKING MY BRAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS NEEDS TO BE REFERRED BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE HAD THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, UM, APPEAR BEFORE US, AND SHE GAVE A VERY PASSIONATE SPEECH.
AND I, I THINK WE, THERE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR HER MEASURE AND FOR THE ALLOWANCES THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN OUR AGENDA.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS GOING BACK.
UH, THERE ARE, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT HAS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OUT OF COMMITTEE THAT IT COME HERE FOR FIRST READING BY TITLE, AND THEN BE REFERRED BACK TO FIND OUT AS FOR A THOROUGH RECOMMENDATION BY THE STAFF.
UH, PRIOR TO SECOND READING, IF YOU WANT TO DIVERT TONIGHT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.
SO, SO I THINK THE POINT WAS MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THIS ITEM FIRST READING.
AND THEN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD REEVALUATE WITH SPECIFICITY EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT, UH, WITH SOME THE ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS, BUT IN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIMELINESS THAT WE GIVE AT FIRST READING TONIGHT.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, SIR.
AND I WOULD ASK TO MAKE OUR MOTION THIS DRIVE.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD INSTEAD LIKE TO SUBSTITUTE MY
[01:00:01]
MOTION FOR APPROVER ON FIRST READING, UH, YOU CAN AMEND AN AMENDED MOTION.SO IF, IF THAT IS YOUR DESIRE, YOU CAN AMEND THE MOTION.
THAT'S ON THE FLOOR TO SAY THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IT AS A, WELL, I THINK IT, IT PROVIDES MORE CLARITY IF THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WOULD WITHDRAW.
AND THE SECOND ALSO, SO THAT WE COULD PROCEED THE FIRST READING, I I'M NOT ON THE SHIRT.
I'M VERY UNSURE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE BY DELAYING THIS SAYING ANYTHING FURTHER.
I MEAN, IF YOU ALL RECALL THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS, UM, PRESENTATION, IT WAS VERY, VERY ON POINT AND THEY SEEMED TO RECEIVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DELAY IT ANY FURTHER, WHAT WHAT'S TO BE GAINED BY THAT.
LET'S GIVE THIS FIRST READING TONIGHT AND THEN AT THE NEXT FINANCE COMMITTEE, EVALUATE AS NECESSARY, RECONSIDER IT AS WELL.
AND THEN AMENDED AT SECOND READING IN JANUARY.
I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
I'M BRIAN, I'M THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.
I'M NOT GOING TO WITHDRAW NOT TO BE ORDINARY, BUT BECAUSE OF THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND I WANT IT.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT IT IS BEFORE I MOVE ANYTHING FORWARD, EVEN BY TITLE ONLY.
SO DO YOU WISH TO AMEND WHAT IS ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, MR. FLO ALLEN? UH, THERE'S NO WAY TO AMEND THIS TO MAKE IT INEFFECTIVE, SIR.
I THINK IT, IN, IN THE INTEREST OF CLARITY AND PROCEEDING IN THE ORDER OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO VOTE THIS MATTER, THIS MOTION TO REFER BACK TO THE COMMITTEE UP OR DOWN, I VOTE, I WILL VOTE AND ASK EVERYBODY TO VOTE AGAINST THIS AND RECOGNIZE WHAT WE HAD FED AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY THAT THIS SHOULD RECEIVE FIRST READING.
UH, MR. SUMMERVILLE, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT BEFORE CALLED THE ROLES, MR. VAGINA, SOME GENERAL SENSE OF WHAT THE INITIAL INFORMATION IS? UH, IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, FUNDS THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
MR. SOMERVILLE, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
NO, IT WILL BE REFERRED BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
[15. FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2021-22 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE RECEIPT OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ("ARPA") FUNDS FROM THE US GOVERNMENT]
NUMBER 15 IS THE FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2122 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE RECEIPT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT KNOWN AS ARPA FUNDS FROM THE U S GOVERNMENT EMOTIONAL PLAYS.SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. RODMAN, SECOND, LIKE THE SECOND MR. LAWSON DISCUSSION, YOU HAVE SEEN THE ARPA FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN BE PRESENTED.
UH, THESE ARE THE FIRST READING OF THOSE.
THERE WILL BE TWO MORE READINGS IN A PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT I'M JUST HERE.
IF YOU MIGHT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. GLOVER, YOU HAD YOUR HAND IN DOPE.
UM, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THEM THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
UM, BUT ATLANTA HAVE, UM, UM, SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WHAT LOVE THE STAFF LOOK AT WAYS THAT, UM, CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ACTUALLY, UH, OUTLINED EARLY ON, UH, WAS NAVY THE NEED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE, UH, HELPED ALONG THE WAY, UH, BECAUSE OF LOSSES OF SALARIES AND LOST OF EMPLOYMENT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UH, SOMEHOW FOR THE STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHETHER THERE'S SOME MEANS THAT WE COULD ASSIST IN THAT VENTURE.
SO, UM, BUT I'M IN THAT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION, MR. HARPER SHINE.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AS WELL.
AND THE PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MR. GLOVER SAID, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO IS REALLOCATE THE $200,000 FOR, UM, RECRUITER.
I THINK WE CAN BUDGET FOR THAT IN THE COURSE OF OUR NORMAL PROCESS.
I THINK THAT THOSE FUNDS COULD BE BETTER UTILIZED IN, IN ANOTHER AREA, BUT, UM, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT TONIGHT, MR. RODMAN.
UM, IF I REMEMBER OUR DISCUSSION, WE HAD THOUGH THESE ITEMS, THIS IS SERVES KIND
[01:05:01]
OF LIKE A BUDGET FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF MONEY.SO THE INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURES WILL COME BACK IN FRONT OF US IN SOME FORM.
THIS IS THE FIRST AND GET US STARTED ON THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU ALL GOT ASK US TO BRING BACK IMMEDIATELY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. CUNNINGHAM? YEAH.
UM, I'M SORTA, I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
I THINK THE STAFF'S DONE A GREAT JOB ON IT.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT I HAD.
WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE AND OUR, UM, EXECUTIVE MEETING ALREADY.
THAT WAS ALSO TELEVISED OVER A WEEK AGO.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL ADDRESS THOUGH, UM, WERE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE TOWARDS COUNTY COUNCIL AND OUR STAFF JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
UM, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY AN ENDLESS BUDGET OF FUNDS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY CAN RELY ON FOR THE FUTURE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO USE TO IMPLEMENT THINGS, TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE FUTURE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT A WAGE GAP, YOU CAN NOT COMPARE RETIRED PEOPLE WITH THE WORKING CLASS HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS VERY WELL PAID AND BEAVER COUNTY THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAID HIGHER THAN A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS AND BUFORD COUNTY.
I EMPLOY A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT GET PAID MORE THAN THE TEACHERS IN BUFORD COUNTY, UM, WHICH THAT SCHOOL BOARD JUST ASKED FOR MORE MONEY.
UM, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN INFORMATION BACK FROM THEM, UM, ON SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.
SO I WILL SAY THAT DO NOT KNOCK THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
IT IS THE BACKBONE OF BUFORD COUNTY ALONG WITH, UH, UM, MARINE CORPS BASE HERE.
SECONDLY, UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SMALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ADJUST.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
MINE WAS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SOME OF THE PEOPLES TO RECRUITERS, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT I DO THINK THE BASIS IS TO GET MORE TALENT HERE IN BEAVER COUNTY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THEM IN BEAVER COUNTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THIS MONEY FOR TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
BUFORD COUNTY, PUTTING A BANDAID ON SOMETHING, BY GIVING OUT MONEY TO CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS OR PROGRAMS DOES NOT SOLVE ANYTHING FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, ALL THAT DOES IS JUST HESITATE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THESE FUNDS TO PLAN, TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR MORE THAN JUST TWO OR THREE YEARS, BUT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR LONGEVITY.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS MEASURE IS SIMPLY THE RECEIPT OF THE ARPA MONEY INTO, UH, PHASES TWO 18 MILLION MILLION DOLLAR TRENCHES.
AND SO, UM, W W BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE, BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY DISPENSE THAT MONEY AND DISBURSE THAT MONEY, THE FIRST STEP IS TO RECEIVE IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MEASURE IS.
AND I GIVE IT MY WHOLE HEARTED SUPPORT.
I THINK IT'S NEEDED IN BEAVER COUNTY.
LET'S LET'S MOVE THIS FORWARD, JOE OR MR. LAWSON.
AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT BRIAN HAS SAID, THIS JUST GETS US TO THE FIRST STEP WHERE THIS GOES BACK TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES, AND THEN ALL THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH REGARD TO WHERE MONIES ARE SPENT AND HOW THEY'RE SPENT.
SO AGAIN, THIS, THIS IS OUR FIRST STEP AND, AND, AND ACCEPTING AND MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UH, SO BRIAN YOU'RE EXACTLY CORRECT.
I, YEAH, I DIDN'T NEED THAT MARK, BUT THANK YOU.
UM, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ITEM 15 IS APPROVED AT FIRST READING ITEM 16
[16. RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK]
IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK EMOTION FOR THAT PLEASE, MR. RODMAN AND MR. MCKELLAN AND HE DISCUSSION, I READ THE RESOLUTION, BUT IT HAS NO DOLLAR FIGURE TO IT.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ITEM NUMBER 16 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[Items 17 & 18]
[17. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO REFUND THE $3001.54 AMOUNT OF IMPACT FEES PAID BY BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY ON 2 RESIDENTIAL UNITS FRONTING RIBAUT ROAD.]
IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO REFUND THE $3,001 54 CENT AMOUNT FOR IMPACT FEES PAID BY, UH, BUFORD COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY ON TWO RESIDENTIAL UNITS, FRONTING RIBALD ROAD AND ITEM.[18. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO WAIVE OR REFUND THE $17,768 TOTAL AMOUNT OF IMPACT FEES DUE OR PAID BY HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ON 8 RESIDENTIAL UNITS FRONTING ALEX PATTERSON ROAD.]
18 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO WAIVE OR REFUND THE 17,768 TOTAL AMOUNT OF IMPACT THESE DUE TO OR PAID BY HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ON EIGHT RESIDENTIAL UNITS FRONTING ALEX PATTERSON ROAD.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION FOR BOTH? MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION OF SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION 17 AND 18 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[19. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS TMS# R300 028 000 0016 0000 AND ALSO KNOWN AS BERMUDA BLUFF]
IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A FEE SIMPLE PER PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS BERMUDA[01:10:01]
LOVE.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION TO MOVE TO? MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION I'LL SECOND.
MR. MAKES THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ITEM NUMBER 19 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS, ITEM 20
[20. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROPERTIES ENCUMBERING THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY FOR KLINE CIRCLE]
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROPERTIES, ENCUMBERING THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY OR CLINE CIRCLE.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVEMENT'S CHAIRMAN DAWSON MADE THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION ITEM 20 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[Items 21 & 22]
21 IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FEDERAL FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE, REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAMS. AND EXCUSE ME, AND ITEM 22 IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE BUFORD COUNTY FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE POLICY.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? THE MOTION MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.
MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WE JUST SAY REAL QUICK, THIS, THIS ACTUALLY AFFECTS ALL JOY, UM, MORE THAN A ALIEN PLACE IN THE COUNTY, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER PLACES, BUT, UM, STARTED BY ERIC LARSON YEARS AGO TO TRY TO GET FEMA MONEY AND THE GRANT PROGRAM.
SO, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, THERE'S ALREADY SOME APPLICANTS IN THAT ALL JOY AREA AND, UH, MONEY COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WE ARE ACTUALLY JUST THE, THE CONDUIT WHEN HE COMES IN, WE HOLD, IT GOES TO THEM.
SO AGAIN, COMPLETELY FOR THIS AND, AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN, IN, IN THIS PROGRAM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, JUST FOR CLARITY.
THERE ARE NO BUFORD COUNTY DOLLARS BEING EXPENDED IN THIS PROGRAM, CORRECT.
I'M GOING TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR REPLY TO THAT.
THERE ARE NO COUNTY DOLLARS BEING USED IN THIS.
I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO CHAIRMAN.
UH, ITEMS 21 AND 22 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM NUMBER 23,
[23. ACCOMMODATIONS TAX (STATE 2%) BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOURISM-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000.]
A MOTION TO HAVE THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX STATE 2% BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOURISM RELATED ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000 TO APPROVE THE LIST.MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION SECOND, PLEASE.
MR. SUMMER GOLDEN MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION SEEING NONE ITEM NUMBER 23 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[24. ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR THE STUART POINT ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT.]
24 IS THE ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR THE STORK POINT ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN AND MR. MAKES THE MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION TIMELY, THIS, UM, WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[25. APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF TWO LOTS ADJACENT TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE FROM THE GG DOWLING FAMILY TRUST - FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,900,000. A FUNDING SOURCE NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED.]
NUMBER 25.UM, THIS HAS BEEN AMENDED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF TWO BOTS ADJACENT TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE FROM GIGI DOLLY DOWLING, FAMILY TRUST FISCAL IMPACT WILL BE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,900,000.
MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVE OUT.
UM, MR. MCKELLAN MADE THE MOTION AND MR. SOMERVILLE MADE THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE I DON'T NUMBER 20 MR. RODMAN.
YEAH, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE NEGOTIATING THE PRICE THAT WE MIGHT PROVIDE A, UH, A LETTER TO THE EFFECT THAT THEY COULD HAVE A CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.
AND IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AND TALKING TO TWO OR THREE PEOPLE, THIS IS AN ARMS-LENGTH, UM, TRANSACTION AND NOT A CHARITABLE DONATION, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT.
AND SECONDLY, WHEN YOU, EVEN IF YOU COULD DO IT WITH CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS, COME WHEN THE APPRAISED VALUE IS GREATER THAN THE VALUE OF THE TRANSACTION.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAVE THE REVERSE SITUATION.
SO, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT.
AND IN FACT, I THINK WE MIGHT EXPOSE OURSELVES, UM, TO SOME FINANCIAL COSTS WHERE WE TO DO THAT.
SO, UH, I NEED TO KNOW WHETHER THAT'S BEING WITHDRAWN AS A CONDITION OF DOING THIS TRANSACTION
[01:15:01]
SCREAMING.UM, STAFF IS STILL STICKING BY OUR RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE WRITING THE LETTER DOESN'T HURT REALLY HURT THE COUNTY TO WRITE A LETTER SAYING THIS CHARITABLE, UH, WHATEVER THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO SUBMIT TO PROVE THAT IT IS THAT TO GET THE CREDIT, THEN YOU KNOW, THAT WILL BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ONCE WE GRAFT AND SEND THEM THE LETTER.
BUT THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSE TO THAT.
IF HE HAS ANYTHING HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.
SO IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T REALLY HARM US OR DON'T REALLY HELP US OR HARM US IN ANY WAY FOR US TO GIVE THAT LETTER.
SO, AND IT MAY BE OF NO BENEFIT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER IF THEY CAN'T PROVE THAT THE PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY THAT VALUE IN ORDER TO GET THAT THE CREDIT, THEN THERE'D BE NO REASON TO PROVIDE THE LETTER.
AND I THINK REALLY JUST EXPOSES US.
I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WOULD EXPOSE US AND SOMEBODY TO CLARIFY THAT.
WELL, YOU SAID THAT IT WAS EVIDENT.
YOU SAID THAT IT'S, UM, TO EVIDENCE THAT CHARITABLE DEDUCTION, THIS IS NOT A CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.
AND FOR US TO SAVE THEM IS WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY AN ARM'S LENGTH TRANSACTION EXPOSES, EXPOSES US TO FRAUD.
SO THERE'S YOUR EXPOSURE? UH, I'LL MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT IT BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO, UH, NO, UH, NO ACCOMPANYING LETTER.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE AMENDMENT IS TO REMOVE ANY TYPE OF LETTER TO BE SENT FOR A CHARITABLE DONATION.
I MEAN, IT'S A, I'M NOT THE WORLD'S FOREMOST EXPERT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE TRANSACTIONS, UH, WHEN YOU'RE BUYING PROPERTY OR EVEN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR WHAT FACE SAMPLE OR WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO PROVIDE SUCH A LETTER AND THEN LET THE PROPERTY OWNER WORK IT OUT WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IT'S WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
UH, BUT IF THEY HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY, YEAH, OKAY, THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S A CONTRIBUTION HERE AND WE'RE FINE TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO CLOSE THE TRADE, NOT JUST THIS TRANSACTION, BUT ANY TRANSACTION.
SO, AND IF THAT IS PART OF IT AND IT WAS NEGOTIATED AND IT MAKES THE SELLER MORE AMENABLE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, I SAY FINE, I DON'T, I DON'T PERSONALLY SEE ANY DOWNSIDE AT ALL.
OTHER COMMENTS, MR. OVERSHOT, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT.
WHAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT IS THE AMOUNT IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A BASIS FOR THE AMOUNT KIND OF SORTED IS PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR.
AND SO NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, I DON'T PRACTICE IN THIS AREA, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THAT TRANSACTION EVER GOT AUDITED, THE COUNTY IS AT REST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BASIS FOR THAT AMOUNT WAS JUST NEGOTIATED.
THERE'S NO REAL BASIS TO IT BASED ON AN APPRAISED VALUE.
SO IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE PERSON.
SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, MR. LAWSON, LET ME JUST, UM, CLARIFY THAT, THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE SHOWING THAT THEY HAVE AN APPRAISAL FOR THAT AMOUNT.
UM, THEY, THEY DO NOT HAVE AN APPRAISAL FOR THAT.
THEY DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL APPRAISAL WHAT THEIR, THEIR APPRAISAL, THEIR OFFICIAL APPRAISAL WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND IT WAS CAME IN AT 1.9, 2.2.
THEN THEY HAD A BROKER THAT SELLS PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF BUFORD THAT GAVE THEM A COST OPINION OF WHAT THE PROPERTY WOULD BE WORTH TODAY.
THEY DID NOT GO OUT AND HAVE IT REAPPRAISED AND WE HAVE WRITTEN DOCUMENTS OF AN APPRAISAL.
AND THEN THIS UPDATED COST OPINION FROM A REAL ESTATE BROKER THAT SELLS A LOT OF REAL ESTATE IN THE CITY OF BUFORD AND, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HERBERT SHAWN'S UM, POINT I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD EITHER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES I DONATE STUFF TO GOODWILL OR SALVATION ARMY, AND THEY GIVE ME A SHEET OF PAPER AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU WANT A TAX DEDUCTION, WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU, THE VALUE OF YOUR DONATION WAS FOR YOUR TAX PURPOSES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESSTIMATE THAT.
I CAN'T PROVE THAT IT WAS THE VALUE, BUT I THINK THAT'S SUFFICIENT.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY LIABILITY OR EXPOSURE FOR THE, AND REMAINS.
WE'RE NOT A 5 0 1 C3 AND IT'S NOT A DONATION.
SO WE HAVE NO BUSINESS GIVING SOMEBODY SOMETHING THAT SAYS IT IS A DONATION.
AND I DONATE STUFF ALL THE TIME AND THEY GIVE ME A, YOU SEE, AND IT'S BETWEEN ME AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, I HAVE TO PROVE TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, WHAT THE VALUE WAS.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE SALVATION ARMY OR WHOEVER I HAVE THE TRANSACTION WITH.
THAT'S RESPONSIBLE THIS MEAT BETWEEN THE ME AND THE IRS.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS AN ISSUE.
QUITE FRANKLY, IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ARE THE GOODWILL.
UM, AND BY GIVING THE LETTER OF, UH, OF AS EVIDENCE, THE CHARITABLE
[01:20:01]
DONATION IS FACTO EVIDENCE OF A CHARITABLE DONATION, WHICH THIS IS NOT CHARITY.WE'RE NOT A 5 0 1 C3, AND THIS IS AN ARMS LENGTH NEGOTIATED, UM, BASED ON, UH, APPRAISAL ARM'S LENGTH TRANSACTION.
SO THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO HAVE THAT LETTER.
AND IT ONLY, IT EXPOSES US TO POTENTIAL CLAIM OF FRAUD.
THERE'S A DISCUSSION GOING ON.
I WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT WHAT I WAS TELLING YOU IS TECHNICALLY CORRECT.
AND IT IS I, WE WRITE THESE LETTERS ALL THE TIME IN RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
AND I JUST WROTE ONE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, UH, TO SOMEONE ON A PREVIOUS, UH, DEAL THAT WE JUST FINISHED UP OUT ON, UH, UH, SAM'S POINT ROAD IN LADY'S ISLAND.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM IS A 5 0 1 C3, SIR.
AND IT IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE DONATIONS, UM, OF, OF EQUITY, OF MONEY, OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS.
COUNTY COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT A 5 0 1 C3.
UH, WE, IN FACT, UH, ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE HENRY FARMS NORTH.
UM, THE SELLER IS ACTUALLY JUST RECEIVED THE SAME TAX CREDITS FOR THEIR DONATED PORTION OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE VALUATION DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE PAID AND WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN PAID TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BEING CALLED HERE.
THEY ALSO ARE AWARE THAT THERE'S OTHER PURCHASES, UH, WITH RURAL CRITICAL, WHERE THE COUNTY SIGNS OFF ON IT AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE WAS A DONATION MADE PURSUANT TO THAT PURCHASE OR THAT TRANSACTION.
SO, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME BRITTANY, BUT ASKED.
I THINK THE QUESTION FROM COUNCIL IS THINGS THAT ARE DONE THROUGH BE COLD ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE COUNTY.
JUST BUYING A PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM SOMEONE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, OR BUYING IT FROM A FAMILY.
AND THAT FAMILY IS SAYING, WE'RE SELLING IT TO YOU ALONE, THE VALUE.
AND WE WANT A TAX CREDIT OF X NUMBER OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S WORTH IN MY MIND.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT IS IN FACT, WORTH THAT TO THE IRS.
I DON'T SEE WHERE WE HAVE A STANDING, WHETHER WE GAVE THEM A LETTER OR NOT.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO INITIATE SOME SORT OF PROOF PROOF TO THE IRS THAT THEY SOLD SOMETHING AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LESS VALUABLE.
AND I'M WHETHER WE GIVE THEM A LETTER OR NOT.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM, CHRIS, VERY KEY DISTINCTION THERE.
WHAT YOU SAID WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EVALUATION AND THE PURCHASE PRICE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO WE'VE GOT AN APPRAISAL AT 1.35, 1.9, THEY'VE GOT AN APPRAISAL FOR 2.2.
SO ON NEITHER SIDE OF THOSE TRAIN ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT TRANSACTION, IS THERE A $400,000 DIFFERENCE TO 300 OR 600, RIGHT? SO WHEN THEY GO FILE A TAX RETURN AND GO FILE AND GET THIS, UM, THIS DEDUCTION OR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO, IF THAT, IF THAT PART OF IT EVER GOT AUDITED, WHAT THEY WOULD SAY IS WE GOT A LETTER FROM THE COUNTY $400,000.
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, IF THE IRS CAME BACK TO US AND SAID, WHERE'S THE SUBSTANTIATION FOR THE 400, WE DON'T HAVE IT.
WE'RE GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN SUBSTANTIATE A DOLLAR WE'RE AT ZERO.
SO THAT'S THE POINT THAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE.
NOT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WE CAN WRITE A LETTER OR WHATEVER, WE JUST CAN'T.
WE, WE RUN SIT RIGHT NOW IS WE DON'T HAVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT SUBSTANCE.
UM, AND AS IT, IS THIS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH JUST ONE VOTE, CORRECT? OR JUST GOING TO HAVE THREE READINGS, ONE VOTE.
SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FOR SOMETHING HERE, YOU KNOW, THE D THE AGREEMENT THAT WE BROUGHT IN YOU ALL IS THE INCLUDES THE AMOUNT AND THE LETTER.
SO, UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS IN MY MIND, JUST THINKING OFF THE CUFF HERE THAT WE CAN HANDLE THIS IS THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THE 2.45, AND AGREE TO PAY THAT.
AND, BUT ONLY PAY 1.9 AND THEN WRITE THE LETTER FOR THE DIFFERENCE.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE APPRAISAL TO DO THAT.
SO THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO HANDLE THIS, IF YOU ARE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE FOUR TO AMEND WHAT WE HAVE.
[01:25:01]
WITH THAT FIRST.SO LOGAN DEALING WITH THE AMENDMENT.
I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS COMPLICATED ABOUT IT.
BUT, UM, TO ME, I HONESTLY SEE NO DIFFERENCE.
WE HAD TWO PEOPLE UP HERE THAT ARGUED THAT WE COULD BE HELD LIABLE, BUT ALSO AGREE THAT WE WOULD BE CONSIDERED GOODWILL AND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
IF WE'RE GOODWILL, THE IRS, DOESN'T GO TO GOODWILL AND SAY, WHY DID YOU GIVE SOMEBODY A BLANK SLIP TO ME? IF I'M SELLING A HOUSE, I PEOPLE SELL HOUSES ALL THE TIME AND THEY SAY, HEY, THE BUYER WANTS THIS TYPE OF BUDGET, BUT PUT IT ON THE MORTGAGE.
SO I CAN USE THAT FOR FIXTURES.
THEY BUILD IT INTO THE PRICE AND THEN IT GETS WRITTEN OFF IN THE END.
UM, TO ME, IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT.
UM, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON THE AMENDMENT.
I THINK WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
UM, WE, IF CHRIS IS SAYING 3M, HE'S A BETTER NUMBERS GUY THAN I AM.
ONE IS 300,000 AND THE OTHER ONE IS 600,000.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LETTER FOR 400,000 OR BELOW THE HALFWAY MARK.
I MEAN, I, I SEE THE ARGUMENT FOR, EVEN IF WE HAD TO JUSTIFY IT, WHICH I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WE WOULD HAVE TO MR. RODMAN.
IF YOU'RE GETTING A MORTGAGE, THEY APPRAISE VALUE IS NOTHING TO DO WITH GETTING A TACTICAL DOCTOR.
LIKE PEOPLE DEFINITELY PAY OVER APPRAISED VALUES AND GETTING IT WRITTEN TO THEIR MORTGAGE, TO USE THAT MONEY, TO PUT SOMETHING TOWARDS THEIR HOUSE.
IT'S THE SAME MOVING NUMBERS GUYS.
ME, IF THEY WANT TO MOVE MONEY FROM, FOR THEIR TAX PURPOSES AND YOU WANNA MOVE MONEY TO REBUILD SOMETHING IN YOUR KITCHEN AND YOUR MORTGAGE, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW THAT'S BETWEEN THEM AND THE BANK.
AND JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE BETWEEN THEM AND THE IRS OF THEM IN THE BANK.
LOGAN, LOGAN, THAT THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT REALLY WORKS.
AND, UM, FEDERAL GUIDELINES, YOU REALLY CAN'T MOVE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AROUND.
UM, DEFINITELY IT COULD BE IN A GAME YOU CAN NEGOTIATE AND CONTRACTS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, 100%.
SO THE QUESTION TO GET US TO A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN VOTE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND THAT SAYS TO TAKE THE LETTER OUT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT FIRST AFTER WE, WHETHER THIS IS UP OR DOWN AFTER THAT, I'M GOING TO HAVE A SUGGESTION AS TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH WAS TO APPROVE IT WITHOUT THE LETTER.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, WAS TO TAKE THE LETTER OUT.
ONCE WE TAKE THE LETTER OUT AND IT IS JUST TO APPROVE THE 1.9 WITH THE FUNDING SOURCE OF THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
SO IT'S A MOTION TO IMMENSE OR REMOVE THAT, REMOVE THAT LANGUAGE, AND THEN YOU'LL VOTE.
THEN YOU WILL PROCEED THE VOTE ON THE MATTER AT HAND 1.1 0.9.
WITH THAT IN MIND, UM, I WILL CALL THE ROLE, UH, SINCE, UH, MR. RODMAN, YOU VOTED, I MEAN, YOU MADE THE MOTION THAT YOU GET TO VOTE FIRST.
WHERE DID MR. DAWSON SAID YES.
MR. MCKELLEN? NO, UH, MR. SUMMERVILLE.
AND THE CHAIR SAYS NO, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, NO.
I HAD MR. RODMAN VOTING TWICE.
SO IT IS DEFEATED SIX TO FIVE.
WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
NOW, IF IN FACT WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE THIS FOR $1.9 MILLION, AND WE DO HAVE AN ACTUAL APPRAISAL, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE PURCHASED THIS WITH THE CAVEAT UNTIL THEY PROVIDE US WITH AN ACCURATE APPRAISAL.
THERE WILL BE NO LETTERS TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT WE'RE PURCHASING AND WHAT THE ASSESSED OF WHAT THE APPRAISED VALUE IS FROM EITHER PARTY.
WAS THAT AN AMENDMENT OR AN INCORPORATION? UM, HOW I CAN'T DO THAT.
I WOULD SUGGEST SOMEBODY, MR. JEREMY, YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT.
UH, READY, JUST PULLED UP THE IRS FORM THAT'S REQUIRED.
AND THERE MUST BE A CERTIFICATE OF AN APPRAISER THAT
[01:30:01]
ATTACK IS ATTACHED TO A REQUEST FOR THAT CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.SO I'M GOING TO ASK A MEMBER TO AMEND IT, TO SAY THAT WE WILL PURCHASE THIS UPON THE PROOF OF AN APPRAISED VALUE.
OH, YOU WANT ME TO MAKE THAT MOTION? SURE.
UM, UM, I THINK THIS IS AN AMENDMENT, ACTUALLY.
YES, IT IS NOW AMENDING THIS AGAIN BY OUR MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE, THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 25, AS, AS WRITTEN WITH THE CAVEAT THAT BEFORE WE PROVIDE THE LETTER THAT THE SELLER PROVIDE US WITH A BONAFIDE APPRAISAL, INDICATING THAT THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY IS EQUAL TO 1.9 MILLION PLUS THE VALUE OF THE LETTER.
IT'S WHATEVER THE APPRAISED VALUE IS.
SECOND, MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE SECOND.
SO NOW WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'LL PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, BUT ONLY A LETTER WILL BE PROVIDED ONCE AN APPROVED APPRAISAL IS OBTAINED? THANK YOU.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT WE'RE KIND OF OFF THE RAILS HERE.
UM, I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT I'M BUYING THIS FOR 1.9 MILLION IS EVEN A GOOD DEAL FOR, FOR THE TAXPAYERS AS OPPOSED TO LEASING IT.
BUT THE LETTER TO ME IS STILL PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT I OUTLINED BEFORE, BUT ALSO WE'RE NOW TELLING THEM PUBLICLY TO GO FIND A VALUE.
AND I, I JUST FIND THAT TO BE REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
NOW, THIS HAS GONE THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
IF THEY COME BACK AND IT'S IN 2.5 LANE, THREE LANE, WHATEVER, THEN THEORETICALLY, YOU SHOULD NEGOTIATE A DIFFERENT PRICE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET A MUCH LARGER BANG FOR THEIR BUCK ON THIS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION.
MY MOTION DIDN'T MENTION A NUMBER.
I KNOW, BUT MY MOTION SAID, IF IT'S NOT 2.3, THEN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE, THE APPRAISAL SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
MY MOTION SAID THAT THEY, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE US WITH A, WITH A BONAFIDE APPRAISAL THAT'S EQUAL TO $1.9 MILLION, PLUS THE AMOUNT OF THE LETTER OR WHATEVER THAT, WHAT'S THE, UH, WHAT DOES THE IRS FORM SAY? YOU HAVE TO HAVE AS AN APPRAISAL.
WHAT'S THE LANGUAGE? WHAT DO THEY CALL THAT? A BRITTANY? SORRY, WE SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS SOONER, BUT THAT WAS THE AGREEMENT IN THE MEDIATION.
THE LETTER WOULD SAY WHATEVER THE APPRAISAL SAYS, THE VALUE IS OVER 1.9.
WELL, THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT IS A DECLARATION OF APPRAISER AND IS PART FOUR OF FORM.
IT SAYS THAT I DECLARE I'M NOT THE DONATE DONOR DONOR AND DONATE PARTY TO THE TRANSACTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF LANGUAGE IN HERE IS ESSENTIALLY STATING THAT I'M A LICENSED APPRAISER AND I'M ACKNOWLEDGING, AND HE'S PROVIDING WHAT KIND OF AN APPRAISAL WAS THERE A DOCTOR TO HAVE TITLE? DID YOU SAY CERTIFIED? LIKE HE'S A LICENSED APPRAISER AND ASSOCIATES QUALIFIED APPRAISALS FOR THIS FORM? 82 83, MAYBE SUBJECT, SUBJECT ME TO THE PLD UNDER SECTION 67 0 1 A FOR AIDING AND EMBEDDING THE UNDERSTANDING OF A TAX LIABILITY, APPRAISAL AND APPRAISAL BY A QUALIFIED QUALIFIED PERSON.
AND THEY USE WHATEVER METHOD IS APPROPRIATE COST, OR MAYBE IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I MEAN, IT'S HIS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT OFTEN EVERYBODY CAN GET AN APPRAISER TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT IT'S STILL THEIR LICENSED QUALIFIED APPRAISAL APPRAISER WHO HAS TO FOLLOW GOD.
BUT DOESN'T MATTER WHO CHOOSES UNDER THE LAW AND ALL THE TRANSACTIONS I'VE EVER DONE IN SELLING REAL ESTATE FROM MY ENTITIES THAT I OVERSAW, I HAD TWO APPRAISALS AND THEY HAD TWO APPRAISALS AND WE MET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WILL REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE AN APPRAISED AMOUNT AND WHATEVER THAT APPRAISED AMOUNT IS, IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEIR APPRAISER SAYS AND WHAT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS.
AND $1.9 MILLION THAT WE'RE PURCHASING IT FOR WOULD CONSTITUTE THE LETTER THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THEM.
MR. CUNNINGHAM, UM, IF THEY JUST SAID THAT IT'S ALREADY IN THERE, DO WE EVEN NEED THE AMENDMENT ANYMORE? THEY JUST SAID, IT'S ALREADY IN THERE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE APPRAISAL IT'S ALREADY WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT SO WE CAN WITHDRAW THEM.
THE AMENDMENT COMPLETELY CORRECT.
IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR COUNCIL TO VOTE THIS WAY.
I THINK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, OKAY, FINE.
[01:35:01]
JUST TO CLEAR MY OWN SELF UP HERE, CAUSE NOW I'M ALL OVER THE FLOOR WITH YOU.LET'S SAY WE ARE PURCHASED FOR 1.9 AND APPRAISE COMES BACK AT 1.6.
I COULD SEE US HAVING AN EXTRA 700,000 IN PROPERTY VALUE.
WHAT WE DO WITH THAT IS WE OWN PROPERTY FOR 1.9 MILLION.
NOW WHETHER THEY GET THE TAX WRITE OFF OR NOT, WE STILL OWN THE PROPERTY AT THAT POINT.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY MADE $600,000 OR $700,000 OR EIGHT OR WHATEVER IT COMES OUT TO CORRECT, OR TO HAVE AN APPRAISAL FOR 2.2.
I UNDERSTAND THE PURCHASING FOR 1.9.
I SAY MY POINT IS IF THE LETTER WE END UP WRITING A LETTER FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, CAUSE IT COMES BACK AT 2.9 MILLION FOR THE APPRAISAL.
TAKE YOUR LETTER, GET YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
WE STILL HAVE AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY VALUE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW LOGIC.
SO THERE IS A VALUE TO THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION, CORRECT.
AND WHAT THAT VALUE IS AND HOW THAT WAS ALL APPRECIATED, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MEDIATION, WHICH WE WERE NOT PRIVY TO, HOW THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE DECISION THAT WASN'T THERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT MAYBE IT WOULD'VE BEEN IN OUR BENEFIT, MAYBE NOT, BUT THAT APPRAISAL SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED PRIOR TO LET'S.
UM, LET'S HAVE THE FINAL COMMENTS AND I'LL CALL THE VOTE.
I WOULD ASK THEM PAUL, IF HE WOULD TO INCLUDE IN THE CONDITIONS A SECOND CONDITION, WHICH WOULD BE THAT WE GET AN OPINION FROM A TAX ATTORNEY THAT, THAT IN FACT WE QUALIFIED APPRAISER IS ALL YOUR NEEDS.
WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A QUALIFIED OR NOT DEALING WITH A DONATION.
I THINK WE'RE TRAINING ON FRAUDULENT GROUND THAT YOU CAN BOTH KNOW AND YOU BOTH KNOW.
UH, MR. SUMMERVILLE, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
TWO WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE AS STATED NOW AS A MANDATE.
SO, UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE, NO DISCUSSION ON THIS.
I WILL CALL THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. RODMAN, YOU MADE THE INITIAL MOTION.
NO, I DON'T KNOW THAT I DID MAKE THE ORIGINAL, BUT I DON'T THINK HE DID, SIR.
I, I WROTE DOWN THAT MR. RODMAN MADE THE ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION OF THE ORIGINAL BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LOAD MATTER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER REALLY MATTER.
UM, WELL WE'LL JUST DO IT ALPHABETICALLY, MR. CUNNINGHAM.
NO, THAT HARRY'S ITEM NUMBER 26
[26. APPROVAL OF 2022 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULES]
IS THE APPROVAL OF THE 2092 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE.IT'S A MOTION TO PLACE ON THE FALL ON THE SCHEDULE.
MR. MCKENNA MAKES THE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, I'M GLAD WE'RE MEETING IN A VARIETY OF PLACES.
THAT'S WAS, WAS OUR DESIRE TO MOVE THINGS AROUND.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE MONTH OF AUGUST, UH, WE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE A S C A C ANNUAL CONFERENCE BEGINS ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST.
AND WE DO HAVE, UM, COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT DAY.
SO WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE THOSE, BUT WE'LL TAKE THAT UP LATER ON.
UH, SO THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE SCHEDULES
[01:40:01]
WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEE, NO.
[Additional Item]
ITEM NUMBER 27.WOULD YOU, UM, MAKE THE MOTION MR. SOMMER? UH, NO.
MR. RODMAN, WOULD YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? YEAH.
THIS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUB RECIPIENT RECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BUFORD FOR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AWARD TOWARD THE DEPOT ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT.
DO WE MOTIONED AND SECONDED? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER 27 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THAT TAKES US TO OUR FINAL CITIZEN COMMENTS.
[27. CITIZEN COMMENTS - (ANYONE who wishes to speak during the Citizen Comment portion of the meeting will limit their comments to no longer than three (3) minutes ( a total of 15 minutes ) and will address Council in a respectful manner appropriate to the decorum of the meeting, refraining from the use of profane, abusive, or obscene language)]
IS THERE ANYONE WHEN YOU DO THAT, CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE ASKING IF THEY CAN LEAVE.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL THAT WANTED TO EAT, UH, OFF THE FOOD TRUCK HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL CITIZEN COMMENTS, MR. SMITH? YES, SIR.
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, I, WELL, FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING, UM, MR. KHURRAM SAID, UM, AND IN TERMS OF THE, UM, THE, UM, FOR THE FOOD BUSINESS TALLY BUSINESS, NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS.
OH, THROWING SENATOR AND YOU WERE RIGHT.
AND CERTAINLY IT IS SAD THAT IN CERTAIN HOSPITALITY BUSINESS IN BUFORD COUNTY, THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE MORE MEMBERS WHO MAKES MORE MAKE MORE THAN TEACHERS.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS MORE TALENT IN BUTTE COUNTY WHEN I RAN FOR COUNTY COUNCIL YEAR WHEN MR. GLOVER RAN FOUR YEARS AGO, WHAT'D SHE JUST RERUN? I WAS ASKING BACK THEN FOR US TO POSSIBLY GET, GET, TO GET PEOPLE OFF POSITIONS IN INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO YOU ALSO JUST HAD A PENNY TAX, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE TAX PRISON TRUSTS YOU.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY VOTED IT DOWN.
SO, YOU KNOW, GETTING, GETTING THIS, YOU KNOW, , THE LIST GOES ON.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, MY POINT IS THAT IT WAS NOT ABOUT LOOKING DOWN WHEN I'M TALKING TASKS, BECAUSE I GOT FAMILY, PLENTY FAMILY THAT WORKED IN HOSPITALITY AND THE STREET.
BUT, BUT MY PUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN BEAVER COUNTY THAT COULD POSSIBLY BRING A CHANGE OF INCOME IN AT LEAST THAT WE'RE NOT FOCUSED ON AND THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO BEAT THE BEAT UP DIRECTLY WITH YOU.
AND ALSO THAT LIST, THAT BRIEF KIND OF SCHOOL DISTRICT DIDN'T GET YOU, THAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR.
I'M LOOKING FOR YOU TO COME WITH US TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT, AND MAYBE ASK FOR THAT STEP THAT ASKED FOR THAT LIST, BECAUSE I'M A BOARD MEMBER SAYING WHERE, HOW YOU'RE A COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO WE CAN ONLY ONLY LOOK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO GET THAT SHEET.
UM, AND, AND, AND, AND SECONDLY, SECONDLY, UM, MY POINT IS STILL, IT'S STILL, UH, I HEARD THAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL, Y'ALL VOTED ON THE, ON THE ORDINANCE FOR THE COUNTY COP, FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, FOR THE COUNTY COUNCILS, THE ZONING ORDINANCE, UH, RULING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ALSO KIND OF COUNSEL.
WE BOTH HAVE THE SAME AREAS THAT WE HAVE YEARS.
I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON SCHOOL BOARD, NOT LONG AGO, I CAME AND ASKED THE SAME BOARD I SAID BEFORE THE SAME BODY AND ACTUALLY TO HAVE A MEETING AND THAT MR. PASTOR MAN, YOU TOLD ME, MR. SOMERVILLE WAS ACTUALLY THE CHAIR THAT WE WOULD MEET AS FOR COUNTY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET TOGETHER.
SO, BECAUSE WE BOTH WERE BOTH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE BOTH MAKE, MAKE GREAT DECISIONS IN THIS COUNTY, HOPEFULLY, BUT, AND, AND THE NOTION THAT THAT Y'ALL TOLD ME THAT WE WOULD HAVE A MEETING, BUT THAT MEETING NEVER HAPPENED.
SO I'M JUST, I'M JUST SATISFIED WITH THAT.
AND THEN, AND THEN NOW, NOW ONCE AGAIN, COUNTY COUNCIL IS VOTING ON A DECISION THAT A, THAT AFFECTS SCHOOL BOARD, AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN INVOLVED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM COUNTY COUNCIL ANYMORE.
I ASKED US TO WORK TOGETHER AND COME TOGETHER.
AND THEN THE CHAIR TELLS ME AT ONE OF THE, KIND OF, ONE OF THE MEANS THAT, THAT THEY WERE, THEY WERE AT THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WEREN'T NOTIFIED OF, UH, OF THESE TOWN HALLS.
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER FIVE OR WHICH AREAS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED, WHICH WAS UNTRUE HOW I FOUND OUT BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO MY REPRESENTATIVE AND HE TOLD ME, AND, AND THAT, AND THAT'S HOW I KNEW ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, I, I'M JUST, I'M REALLY BAFFLED OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF COUNCIL DOES AND REPRESENTING IN REPRESENTING THIS KINDNESS THAT THIS COUNTY, IN TERMS OF THE MONEY AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU STILL ARE ASKING WHAT REALLY ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO WITH THE AMERICAN CARES ACT MONEY.
AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE'RE ALLOWING CERTAIN PEOPLE, A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES, THAT, AND THERE'S A REAL BIG CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
SO THE TAX PAYERS ARE LOOKING FOR YOU TO COME TO THEM AND ASK THEM AND SEE ALSO HOW WE CAN BETTER SPEND THAT MONEY.
WE CAN GIVE SOME GOOD ANSWERS.
OH, MR. PASSMAN, PLEASE GIVE ME 30 SECONDS.
[01:45:01]
WE'LL BE QUICK.UM, THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES, WHICH HURTS YOUR LOW AND CAME, CAME UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED FROM YOUR SCHOOL BOARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL THAT HURTS YOUR LOWER INCOMES FAMILIES.
I VOTED AGAINST IT, YOUR PENNY SALES TAX.
I GOT TURNED DOWN BY THE COMMUNITY OVERWHELMINGLY.
SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IT DOES HURT LOWER IMPACT FAMILIES.
BUT ONE OF THOSE WAS SENT TO US UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY BY YOU GUYS, AND THEN CAME AND ASKED FOR US FOR ANOTHER $20 MILLION RAISE IN YOUR BUDGET A MONTH LATER.
SECONDLY, UM, WE'VE ALSO REQUESTED MEETINGS MYSELF IN PARTICULAR.
I HAVE EMAILS REQUESTING MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR GUYS BUDGET CAME THROUGH AND I WAS REJECTED EVERY TIME.
I'LL SPEAK WITH YOU AFTERWARDS.
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO HAS BEEN DONE.
THIS IS HER NO FURTHER ACTION.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND.
GO TO BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM BLISS CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THIS IS THE BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT.
THE SUBJECT OF THIS MOMENT IS THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY LOST TO FOLKS TODAY, BUT THE ARTIFACTS, THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY ARE AROUND US.
IF WE LOOK FOR THEM, PHOSPHATES WERE KNOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
THEY WERE FIRST DISCOVERED UP AROUND SOMERVILLE AND NORTH OF CHARLESTON.
IT'S KNOWN AS MORAL AND BENEATH THE MORROW WAS THE PHOSPHATE ROCK GEOLOGISTS AND SCIENTISTS KNEW ABOUT IT.
PHOSPHATE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE AGRICULTURAL OF THE SOUTH BECAUSE IT IS THE BASIS OF MOST FERTILIZER AND MANY OF THE COTTON LANDS OF THE OLD SOUTH, WHERE MUCH EXHAUSTED BY THE COTTON INDUSTRY BEFORE THE WAR.
SO AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY WAS INTRODUCED FIRST IN CHARLESTON IN 1867, AND THEN LOOKING FOR BEDS OF HIGH CONTENT PHOSPHATE ROCK.
THESE PHOSPHATE EXPLORES AND ENTREPRENEURS DISCOVERED BUFORD COUNTY.
THE NEXT 30 YEARS, BUFORD COUNTY BECAME THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF PHOSPHATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND ONE OF THE RICHEST SOURCES OF PHOSPHATES KNOWN IN THE WORLD BETWEEN 1870 AND 1900.
THIS BECAME THE CENTER OF THE MINING.
PART OF THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
MANY OF THE FERTILIZER FACTORIES WERE IN CHARLESTON, BUT THE MINING AND THE PHOSPHATE WORKS AS THEY CALL THEM WHERE THEY BROKE THE ROCK DOWN INTO POWDER AND THE PURE PHOSPHATE AND SHIPPED IT OUT.
THOSE INDUSTRIAL CENTERS WERE MOSTLY IN BUFORD COUNTY AT THE HEIGHT OF THIS INDUSTRY IN THE 1880S, 3000 BUFORD TONES WERE EMPLOYED IN THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS.
IN MANY CASES WAS A RULE OF THUMB WHEN THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS BEGAN IN THE 1870S, THAT THE RICHEST VEINS OF PHOSPHATE WERE UNDERWATER UNDER THE COOSAW RIVER UNDER THE BUFORD RIVER, UNDER BATTERY CREEK.
SO INITIALLY LOCAL SEA ISLANDERS WOULD DIVE DOWN FOR THE ROCK AND FILL UP BASKETS AND THEN GET PULLED UP ON A ROPE, NOT ONLY LIMITING THE DEPTH TO WHICH THEY COULD MINE AT, BUT LIMITING THEIR HEALTH AS WELL, GOING UP AND DOWN, BUT VERY QUICKLY IN THE 1870S ENGINEERS DISCOVERED THAT THEY COULD BUILD VERY LARGE UNDERWATER STEAM POWER DREDGES ON FLOATING BARGES.
AND SO THEY BEGAN TO MECHANIZE THE INDUSTRY AND RATHER THAN FEWER PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EMPLOYED MORE, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PHOSPHATE PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES AND 80% OF THE PHOSPHATE PRODUCED IN SOUTH CAROLINA CAME FROM BUFORD COUNTY.
THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY BETWEEN 1870 AND 1900 WAS THE LARGEST
[01:50:01]
INDUSTRY IN THE HISTORY OF BUFORD COUNTY AND THE LARGEST MINING INDUSTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.AND PEOPLE HAVE PRETTY MUCH FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS THE SOURCE OF GREAT PROSPERITY IN BUFORD COUNTY, BETWEEN 1870 AND 1890.
THE POPULATION OF BUFORD COUNTY GREW BAY STREET BECAME A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL CENTER.
PHOSPHATE WORKS IN OTHER WORDS, FACTORIES WHERE THEY BURN THE PHOSPHATE ROCK AND BROKE IT DOWN INTO POWDER.
WE'RE LOCATED ON SPANISH POINT.
WE'RE LOCATED, UM, LUCY CREEK AND THE LARGEST WAS LOCATED FIRST ON COOSAW PLANTATION.
AND THEN OUT AT THE END OF CHISHOLM HIGHLAND ON SUMMER HOUSE POINT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE COOSAW RIVER, SMALLER PHOSPHATE COMPANIES AND PHOSPHATE RIDGES AND THE TUG BOATS AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT HAD TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS INDUSTRY FOR 30 YEARS WERE AN ENORMOUS BOOM TO BUFORD COUNTY.
EVENTUALLY THE SMALLER PHOSPHATE COMPANIES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE VERY LARGE COMPANY CALLED THE COOSAW MINING COMPANY.
THE KUSAMA MINING COMPANY BY 1892 WAS THE LARGEST PHOSPHATE MINING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT IN THOSE SAME YEARS IN 1888, RICHARD VEINS AND PHOSPHATE WERE DISCOVERED NEAR TAMPA, FLORIDA.
AND DURING THE 1890S, THE PERCENTAGE OF PHOSPHATE EXTRACTED FROM BUFORD COUNTY DECLINED AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PHOSPHATE DISCOVERED AND EXTRACTED FROM FLORIDA AND OTHER PLACES LIKE NEAR NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE WAS RICHER PHOSPHATE.
AND EVENTUALLY IT PUT THESE PHOSPHATE MINES OUT OF BUSINESS PHOSPHATE AND BUFORD COUNTY.
THE RIVER ROCK AS IT WAS CALLED IN THOSE DAYS WAS 60% PURE PHOSPHATE, WHICH IN 1870 WAS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
BY 1888, THE FLORIDA ROCK WAS 80% PURE PHOSPHATE.
AND THE ECONOMICS OF THAT SIMPLY PUT THE RIVER COUNTY PHOSPHATE BUSINESS OUT OF BUSINESS.
COOSAW MINING COMPANY STOPPED MINING IN 1905.
THE VIRGINIA CAROLINA COMPANY TRIED TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THE OLD WORKS AND FINALLY WENT BANKRUPT IN 1914.
AND THAT WAS THE BITTER END OF THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS CONSEQUENCE OF THE END OF THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT EXODUS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION OF THE SEA ISLANDS WITHOUT GOOD WAGE JOBS BEGAN TO MOVE NORTH AND DEPOPULATED POPULATED MUCH IN BUFORD COUNTY.
BUT THE OTHER EVENT WHICH HASTENED THE DEMISE OF THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY IN BEAVER COUNTY WAS OF COURSE THE GREAT HURRICANE OF 1893, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE 10 LARGEST HURRICANES AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANES EVER TO HIT THE UNITED STATES KILLED AS MANY AS 2000 PEOPLE ON THE SEA ISLANDS AND WRECKED THE PHOSPHATE FLEET.
SO THE INVESTORS IN THE PHOSPHATE FLEET MOVED THEIR CAPITAL TO FLORIDA AND THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS DECLINED FOR COUNTY.
THIS HAS BEEN A BUFORD COUNTY AND SEE MORE B FOR COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
ONCE THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER REMEMBERED IT GRIND DEGREE.
AND WHEN YOU GO SHOPPING, TAKE YOUR OWN USABLE BAG, BUY RECYCLED CONTENT CARDS AND WRAPPING PAPER, OR JUST USE THE SUNDAY COMICS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
I'M WAYNE FACILI, PRESIDENT OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE'RE OFFERING A $5,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF ANY PERSON INVOLVED IN ANIMAL FIGHTING CONTACT US@HUMANESOCIETY.ORG TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT CRACK DOWN ON THIS CRIME.
THIS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BEAVER COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL.
A VISIT FROM SAINT NICHOLAS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS LIKE CLEMENT C MOORE WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE STARTED, CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT EVEN A MOUSE.
THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE IN HOPES THAT ST NICHOLAS SOON WOULD BE THERE.
THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS WHILE VISIONS OF SUGAR, PLUMS DANCED IN THEIR HEADS AND MORE, MORE IN HER KERCHIEF.
AND I, AND MY CAT HAD JUST SETTLED OUR BRAINS FOR A LONG WINTERS NAP WITHOUT ON THE LAWN.
I SPRANG FROM MY BED TO SEE WHAT WHAT'S THE MATTER.
I FLEW LIKE A FLASH TORE, OPEN THE SHUTTERS AND THREW UP THE SASH.
THE MOON ON THE BREAST OF THE NEW FALLEN SNOW GAVE A LUSTER OF MIDDAY TO OBJECTS TO MY WANDERING.
I SHOULD APPEAR, BUT A SLEIGH AND EIGHT TINY REINDEER WITH A LITTLE OLD DRIVER.
SO LIVELY AND QUICK, I KNEW IN A MOMENT IT MUST BE ST.
[01:55:01]
AND SHOUTED AND CALLED THEM BY NAME NO DASHER, NO DANCER.NOW PRANCER AND VIXEN ON COMMENT ON CUPID, ON DUNDER AND BLITZING TO THE TOP OF THE PORCH TO THE TOP OF THE WALL.
NO AS DRY LEAVES THAT BEFORE THE WILD HURRICANE FLY, WHEN THEY MEET WITH AN OBSTACLE MOUNT TO THE SKY.
SO UP TO THE HOUSE TOP THE COURSERS, THEY FLEW WITHIN SLEIGH FULL OF TOYS AND ST.
AND THEN IN A TWINKLING, I HEARD ON THE ROOF, THE PRANCING AND PAWING OF EACH LITTLE HOOK AS I DREW IN MY HEAD AND WAS TURNING AROUND DOWN THE CHIMNEY ST.
NICHOLAS CAME WITH A BOW AND HE WAS DRESSED ALL IN FUR FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FOOT AND HIS CLOTHES.
THEY ARE ALL TARNISHED WITH ASHES AND SOOT, A BUNDLE OF TOYS.
HE HAD FLUNG ON HIS BACK AND HE LOOKED LIKE A PEDDLER, JUST OPENING HIS PACK, ITS EYES, HOW THEY TWINKLED HIS DIMPLES, HOW MARY HIS CHEEKS WERE LIKE ROSES HIS NOSE LIKE A CHERRY, HIS TROLL LITTLE MOUTH WAS DRAWN UP LIKE A BOW.
AND THE BEARD ON HIS CHIN WAS AS WHITE AS THE SNOW, THE STUMP OF A PIPE.
HE HELD TIGHT IN HIS TEETH AND THE SMOKE IT IN CIRCLES, HIS HEAD LIKE A WREATH.
HE HAD A BROAD FACE AND A LITTLE ROUND BELLY THAT SHOOK WHEN HE LAUGHED LIKE A BOWL FULL OF JELLY.
HE WAS CHUBBY AND PLUMPER, RIGHT? JOLLY OLD ELF.
I LAUGHED WHEN I SAW HIM IN SPITE OF MYSELF, A WINK OF HIS EYE AND TWIST OF HIS HEAD SOON GAVE ME TO KNOW I HAD NOTHING TO DREAD.
HE SPOKE OUT A WORD, BUT WENT STRAIGHT TO HIS WORK AND FILLED ALL THE STOCKINGS.
THEN TURNED WITH A JERK AND LAYING A FINGER ASIDE OF HIS NOSE AND GIVING A NOD UP THE CHIMNEY.
HE ROSE, HE SPRANG TO A SLAVE TO HIS TEAM, GAVE A WHISTLE AND THE WAY THEY ALL FLEW LIKE THE DOWN OF A THISTLE, BUT I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM ERE.
HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL OUR GOOD NIGHT.
COME CHECK OUT OUR HOLIDAY OFFERINGS AT YOUR NEAREST BRANCH OF THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY.
WE HAVE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS HANUKKAH KWANZAA, JUST FOR FUN ALL YEAR ROUND.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR LOCATIONS IN BUFORD, BLUFFTON HILTON, HEAD LIBIDO AND ST.
HELENA ISLAND VISIT OUR WEBSITE@WWWDOTBUFORDCOUNTYLIBRARY.ORG AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.